GPU - BFG 6800oc
PSU- Enermax EG365P-VE 350w, +5v=32A, +12v=17A.
RAM- CMX1024 3200C2PT 400mhz. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-560-_-Product
With a nice Antec case and 4 case fans it is a decent setup for my parents so a couple years ago I passed it onto them. I have W7 installed on it now and for their web browsing/word processing needs it's sufficient.

I have been experiencing some problems that over it's 8 years of use have never been an issue before. The problem imo could either be incorrect re-installation of the heatsink/fan, a power issue not allowing the CPU fan to run near max speed or my 2800+ is running much hotter then ever before due to it's age.

Starting a couple of months ago any fan plugged into the CPU_FAN pins on the MOBO wont work. Also, the Thermaltake Volcano pci slot rheostats adjustable knob which let you manually change the impeller speed from 1800 to 5300rpm is unusable because the wires got cut. I could probably solder some wires together but shouldn't there be a way to run my CPU fan at/near max without it? So currently when the Thermaltake 80mm Smart Fan II is plugged into either the SYS_FAN, PWR_FAN or through a 4pin molex adaptor it is running at 3125rpm according to my bios. I am skeptical that it is running at this speed however because when running at max 5300rpm it was VERY LOUD. Even adjusting the rheostats adjustable knob to 1/2 max it was much louder then it is now. Could the 3125rpm bios reading be wrong? Is there something special I have to do to get it to run at max? I don't see a bios setting for it and I'm pretty sure the mobo included program called "CPU smart fan control" wont work because it is expecting it to be wired into the CPU_FAN pins.

For the 8 years prior to this year my 2800+ ran at idle temps of 35c and load temps of 65c which for this CPU was not half bad. I have read of people getting much hotter then that and I attributed my success to my heatsink/fan. My MB temps are always < 30c. For 8 years the thermal paste was left unattended and it had completely dried up but yet still was running at a consistent temp. This year I wiped it clean and re-applied new thermal paste (better quality then the original). Since then, the idle temps are reaching 70-75c! I don't even want to know what load temps would be. I don't think this temp problem is related to my re-installation of the heatsink but I guess it's possible.

If anyone has any advice on what I could do to remedy this situation it would be much appreciated. I think this Rig is worth saving because as long as the parts don't break it will last my parents for many more years. I am willing to try purchasing a new HS/fan but unsure of what would be the best one or even where I could find a vendor that sells socket A parts. This is the only one that newegg has. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835200017Edited by uffdabock - 4/5/11 at 6:31pm